Thorns FC Notebook: Why fans should keep an eye on UEFA Women’s Champions League final

PORTLAND, Ore. – The UEFA Champions League final takes place this weekend, and the eyes of fans of European soccer will be firmly planted on the matchup of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid and their respective stars. But Thorns FC fans should save some room for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final on Thursday as soon-arriving midfielder Verónica Boquete steps out on to one of women’s professional soccer’s biggest stages.

Boquete is one of the stars for Swedish club Tyresӧ FF and they’ll face German side VfL Wolfsburg as the underdog Thursday at Estádio do Restelo in Lisbon, Portugal, for the Women’s Champions League title.

Tyresӧ has been a juggernaut during 2013-14 UEFA Women’s Champions League play, posting a 5-0-3 record throughout the competition. The Swedish club has produced 19 goals, while conceding just three. Boquete has been a key contributor to Tyresӧ in Champions League play, starting all eight games and recording one goal and two assists. She has played the full 90 in all but one of her Champions League appearances.

The road to the 2013-14 UEFA Champions League final for Tyresӧ started Oct. 9, 2013, in the Round of 32. The club defeated Paris Saint-Germain (France), Fortuna (Denmark), Neulengbach (Austria) and Birmingham (England) each in a two-match, aggregate-goal series to reach Thursday’s final.

Boquete, captain of Spain’s women’s national team, is one of the international stars that highlight a talented Tyresӧ squad. In addition to Brazilian star Marta, Tyresӧ also features a handful of players that have suited up for the U.S. Women’s National Team in goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defenders Whitney Egen, Ali Krieger, Meghan Klingenberg, and forward Christen Press.